Since steelmakers' coke inventories have been at low levels, they have needed to purchase coke to maintain their daily production, and so sentiment in the coke market has improved. In addition, the weather in China is no longer as hot as it was and some steelmakers have accelerated their coke purchasing activity in order to prepare for production in the autumn. Meanwhile, local governments are focusing on environmental protection issues, with coking plants' production levels thereby being limited. It is thought that coke prices in the Chinese domestic market may see slight rises due to possible supply shortages in the coming period.